One Pan Mexican Rice

This is a great main dish to eat with salsa chips and avocado or to roll up in a burrito or wrap. It freezes fairly well and you can cook the rice in it or use left over rice. If you are using leftover rice substitute 2 cups cooked rice for the raw rice and vegetable broth.

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 sweet onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup rice* and vegetable broth OR 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 1 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned or roasted
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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• 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Drain and rinse the black beans and corn if using canned and set aside.

*If using raw rice, drain the diced tomatoes saving the juice in a 2 cup measuring cup. Add enough vegetable broth to equal two cups. 

*If using cooked rice just add the tomatoes, juice and all to the pan. 

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil until the onion is transparent. Add the chili powder and cumin and cook until fragrant. Add rice, raw or cooked and cook and stir until the rice is coated with spices. All all beans, tomatoes, corn. 

RAW RICE: Add tomato/vegetable broth mixture and bring to a full rolling boil. cover with lid and set aside for 15-20 minutes until rice is cooked. 

COOKED RICE: Cook and stir until all ingredients are heated through. 

Add avocado, squeeze on lime juice and cilantro leaves if desired. Eat with chips and salsa, wrap in a tortilla or just eat it with a spoon? 

Veggie Coconut Korma

Rich, creamy and a little spicy.

1 1/2 TBS Coconut oil
1 small onion diced

Cook until onion in coconut oil until transparent and add:
1 tsp minced ginger root
4 cloves minced garlic
1 red bell pepper chopped
2 carrots sliced or diced
1 small/med zucchini chopped or diced
5 or 6 mushrooms chopped
4 tsp curry powder
2 1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/4 tsp turmeric
 cardamom - start with 1/2 tsp - up to 1tsp. Some brands are stronger and can taste soapy.
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/8 tsp nutmeg
dash cloves

Cook until fragrant and add:
1 can full fat coconut milk
1 TBS salt
2 TBS sugar
1 1/2 cup cauliflower chopped in bitesized pieces
1/4 cup ground cashews

Simmer until cauliflower is tender and you are ready to serve. At the last minute add
1 cup frozen peas
Sprinkle with
chopped cilantro and serve with lime juice
cooked rice

Unstuffed Tomatoes

This is one of the first meatless recipes I made and my family loves it! 

It takes about 30 minutes and has minimal mess. Great with fresh in season tomatoes!

Here's what you'll need: (all veggies are washed and chopped)

HOT LAYER:

1 TBS Olive oil (basil infused if you have it)

1/2 chopped sweet onion

1 clove garlic minced

3 or 4 celery stalks 

2 or 3 carrots peeled 

1 med. sized zucchini (I like to leave the peel on for color)

1 med. sized yellow squash

6-8 mushrooms 

1 med red bell pepper 

sugar snap peas 

2 tsp season salt

1 cup uncooked orzo pasta (can use rice or couscous but the pasta is the best)

 - feel free to substitute as needed

FRESH LAYER

4-6 fresh tomatoes

1 TBS garlic salt

Fresh basil leaves

TOPPING

2 slices of dry or toasted bread  (Dave's killer bread with seeds or any will do)

1 TBS nutritional yeast

2 tsp jacks garlic seasoning

2 tsp coconut oil (basil infused olive oil is also really yummy)

1/2 cup shelled pistachios

COOK PASTA: In a Med sauce pan add some salt to water and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to directions. Drain but do not rinse.

PREPARE HOT LAYER:Chop veggies. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over hi to med hi heat.  When it's hot add chopped veggies and season salt. Don't be afraid to get a char on the veggies. Stir until tender.                           

While veggies and pasta are cooking add the TOPPING ingredients to a food processor until the bread is mostly chopped. Add the pistachios and chop until the bread is in fine crumbs but there are bigger chunks of pistachios remaining. 

When the veggies and pasta are done, combine them in the fry pan and set aside with a lid to keep warm.

Wash and slice the tomatoes, (*edited* it's best to cut them in bite sized pieces)and place into a colander with the salt. Allow the excess moisture to drain from the tomatoes for 10 minutes or so before adding the basil and transferring to a serving dish. Chop the basil while the tomatoes are draining.

 

 Put the vegetable/pasta mixture on the tomatoes and top with the bread crumbs. (My crumbs got more brown than golden.) Serve!

* I have recently been putting the hot mixture on the bottom, then added the tomatoes and then the breadcrumb topping on top.

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Breakfast? Steel Cut Oats

Steel Cut Oats. Breakfast of Champions.

  

People say they take too long to cook... 10 minutes is too long?(with most of that time available for you to do something else) Not a quick as nuking a pop tart but still....

If you cook them for a long time you get a bowl of mush - if that's what you're going for then regular quick oats would work just fine. 

But if you prefer texture - chewy bits of oats with your fresh berries and bananas then steel cut oats is the way to go. 


Cook day of - SERVES 2 (one mama bear sized 1/3 and one papa bear sized 2/3)

(See below for large batch version that keeps in the fridge)

Before you go to bed add:
1/2 cup steel cut oats
1 1/2 cups water
to a medium sauce pan with a heavy bottom and good fitting lid.

Allow to soak overnight (if you forget to soak it, plan to let it sit 10 minutes longer in the morning after bringing to a boil)

In the morning Bring the oats and water to a full rolling boil then turn off the heat. (I like to add a handful of Goji berries at this point but that's totally optional.) When the water/oats settle down, put the lid on it but leave it on the burner.

Full Rolling boil

Chop and or rinse any fruit you'd like and add it to your serving bowls. I usually add a whole banana (split between both bowls), blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. You can also add apples, peaches or any fruit in season.

Now unload your dishwasher while you're waiting for it to cook - or get dressed, feed your dog or whatever. The oats can actually sit for a while and not burn or get mushy. You may have to reheat them for a minute when you're ready to eat but they will be the perfect consistency!

READY TO EAT?
I like to add to the oats:

Ready to sit wth a lid on it

1 tsp cinnamon
1 TBS Chia seeds
1 TBS Hemp Seeds
2 TBS Brown Sugar (Honey or whatever sweetener you have is fine, or try it without)
2 TBS Almond butter *recipe below

Stir into the oats adding a few tablespoons of water if needed and turn the heat back up until they are hot again (it only takes a minute or two if you turn it on hi and stir)

Put it on your fruit with a TBS of chopped almonds.

Large batch version to keep in fridge and just microwave as needed:

8 cups water

2 1/2 cup steel cut oats

large handful Goji berries (optional)

2/3 cup seed mixture (equal parts ground flax seeds, hemp seeds and chia seeds) 

1/3 cup good cinnamon - Name brand or Costco (double that if using a generic brand)

2/3 cups brown sugar (I have been leaving this out and adding a little honey each day)

1/3 - 1/2 cup almond butter

Stir water, oats and goji berries in a large pot and bring to boil. Turn off heat and whisk in seed mixture cinnamon and brown sugar (if using). Set on a cooling rack if you have an electric stove, otherwise you can leave it on the burner with the burner turned off. After about 5 minutes the mixture will have thickened and you can whisk in the almond butter. pour into a shallow container and cover, I often use two. (A deeper container will allow the outside to cool while the middle stays hot and keeps cooking. Unless you plan to stir it as it cools, a shallower container is better.) Store in fridge. Do not stack until both containers are cool. You can eat it the same day but may need to allow the portion you will eat to stand for a few more minutes. You also may need to add a bit of water to the oats when you warm them to get to proper consistency.

* HOMEMADE ALMOND BUTTER:



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Thai Noodle Salad

• 12 ounces angel hair pasta
• 5 cups shredded napa cabbage
• 4 cups shredded carrots
• 1 large red bell pepper, chopped
  1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
  1 bunch chopped mint
• 1 bunch fresh green onions, chopped
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 18 oz cooked diced chicken

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
• 5 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  
  
  
  
  
  

Directions

(Use a food processor to shred the carrots)

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Break pasta into small pieces and add to boiling water; cook for 4 minutes or until al dente; drain. In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, cabbage, carrots, red bell peppers, 1/2 of the cilantro, 1/2 of the onions, and chicken.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter, tahini, rice wine vinegar and sweet chile sauce. Season with soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Ten minutes before serving, toss the sauce with the cabbage mixture until evenly coated. Garnish with remaining cilantro and green onions. Optional garnish: peanuts and sesame seeds.

Eat cold. Makes great left overs. 

Makes 17/1 cup servings 175 calories per serving. 

Adapted from http://allrecipes.com/recipe/thai-noodle-salad-2/detail.aspx

Won Ton Soup

Mostly Homemade War Wonton soup.
(with Lisa's Eggrolls - one baked and one fried)

1/2 of a large pkg frozen potstickers
( I use the chicken/vegetable ones from Costco)
Bring 10 cups chicken broth to a boil and add two flavoring packets from the potstickers.
While that is heating:
Chop about 8 green onions and add to broth
When water boils add about 1/2 pkg won tons (I figure about 3-4 per person) and start timer for 8 min.

While that cooks wash, chop and set aside the following:

1/2 head or so of Broccoli
1 Small head Bok Choy (in fruits and veggies near the lettuce)
1 cup carrots chopped
Mushrooms - to taste (if they are small you could leave them whole)
Drain one can of sliced water chestnuts and set aside
Drain one can of baby corn and set aside

NOTE: You can add diced firm tofu or any kind of leftover (all ready cooked) meat if you like but avoid any with strong seasoning as it changes the flavor of the broth. Char shu pork is awesome if you can find it.

When timer dings. take the soup off the heat and add the veggies (and tofu or meat) making sure they all get submerged in the boiling broth. Put lid on and allow to sit for a few minutes off the heat while you set the table and round up the kids.

DINNER'S READY!

Note: We like our veggies crisp tender - if you like them softer, allow them to cook in the broth until desired tenderness (or mushiness:)

The only Weight Watcher points in this is the Won Tons - 4 points for three
If you add meat there are also points for that.

Tortilla Soup

I got the picture from the internet but this is really what it looks like. Sooo Yummy.
I got the recipe from Sharon Bell, my good friend in Tucson, about 16 years ago and it's still a family favorite. We were in the primary presidency together and did an annual Christmas party for the teachers and their spouses where we had Tortilla soup and then made gingerbread houses - you'll have to look for that picture on a flashback Friday on my personal blog (if I every find it). Enough reminiscing... here is the recipe:

Tex Mex Tortilla Soup

4 chicken boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
(you can use cooked (leftover) chicken, grilled chicken is awesome or just go vegetarian)
2 cups water
2 cups chicken broth (Sharon insists on canned broth but I always use bullion)
2 cups beef broth
2 - 14oz cans of diced tomatoes undrained (I love the lime cilantro kind)
1/2 cup chopped onion (or more if you like onions)
1/4 cup chopped sweet pepper (green is prettier but my family likes the flavor of red better)
1 can drained sweet corn (Sharon insists on frozen)
1 can drained rinsed black beans (optional)
Combine ingredients and boil for 15 to 20 min. until onion is transparent and chicken is cooked through. If you are using cooked chicken do not add it until the broth has cooked for 15 min.
Then add:
1 tsp chili powder
2 TBS Cumin
and pepper to taste.

Cook for 10 min., taste and add fresh ground pepper or salt as needed. The soup will look watery but that's OK because you need room to add all kinds of fresh ingredients.
Serve with:
Diced avocado
Tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips (Sharon says Fritos are the only way to go)
Chopped green onion
Lime slices
Shredded cheese.

This makes 6-8 main dish servings

Asian Turkey Wraps

I'm sorry I missed my day this week! I had like...9 distractions! :) I hope you don't mind me posting one today. I got this from a friend who got it off another site, but I love it! I wish I knew which site it came from to give them credit.

Asian Turkey/Lettuce wraps

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ( have just sprayed with Pam and it was fine)

1 Cup finely chopped onion

1 lb ground turkey breast

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

¼ teaspoon garlic salt

1 12 oz bag of Broccoli Slaw

1 small can drained water chestnuts

½ Cup Yoshida’s Teriyaki Sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil (I have made w/o if I don't have any)

Approximately 15 Butter Lettuce leaves (you can also use iceberg lettuce leaves)

1. Place oil into a large 5 qt skillet or other large pan over medium heat. When hot, add onion and cook for 5 minutes to soften. Add ground turkey, salt, pepper and garlic salt. Brown and crumble until cooked through.

2. When turkey is cooked, stir in broccoli slaw, water chestnuts, teriyaki sauce and sesame oil. Cook for another 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Reduce heat to low until ready to serve. Serve spoonfuls inside lettuce leaves. Enjoy!

Is it Spring yet?

Pasta Salad

This is a favorite at my house, and they look for leftovers the next day.
Note: you can use any veggies, meats or cheeses you like to tailor this for your family.

Get a large pot of water boiling while you chop the veggies.

I chop equal amounts of carrots, broccoli and cauliflower in small pieces.
(think too small to be picked out easily and too small to overpower a spoonful.)
You could add any veggies, thawed peas, halved cherry/grape tomatoes, leftover cooked chilled asparagus, chopped sweet peppers. Whatever you family likes.

All together you should have about three cups of vegetables.
Place in a large bowl.

Next chop about 5 stalks of green onions and add it to the other veggies.

Some time in here your water should be boiling. Add about 12 oz of your favorite pasta and cook according to package directions. We like small shell and bowtie pasta the best but corkscrew in any of it's varieties works great as does penne.... really, whatever you have on hand works (maybe not spaghetti but who knows).

Time to chop some meat - this is a great use for leftovers, chicken (grilled is especially good), beef, ham... the thicker sliced lunch meat works fine too. Cottage cheese is also really good.

Chop some cheese, string cheese is a favorite but you could do Colby jack, Parmesan, feta, shredded cheese (you get the picture).

I always keep the meat and cheese separate and allow people to add their own - or not. The salad as a whole keeps better this way.

When your pasta is done, drain it and then put ice cubes in the bottom of the pan. Mix the ice cubes, hot pasta and some cold water in the pan and allow to sit for a few minutes as you get everything together. Stir the pasta occasionally to cool evenly.

Drain the pasta again making sure the ice cubes are melted or removed and mix pasta with veggies. (There should be roughly equal amounts of each).

Serve with the cheese and meats as well as a variety of salad dressings on the side.
Serves 4-6.

Deep Dish Mexican Pizza

My kids love tacos and corn bread, so when i found this recipe it seemed like a natural combination. This is great for left over taco meat.

Preheat oven to 400
Cornbread-
1-1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup skim milk
1/4 vegetable oil
2 egg whites or 1 egg beaten

Toppings:
Anything you would put on a taco-
I put taco meat, sliced olives, diced tomatoes, 1 cup of shredded medium cheddar cheese.

Mix the corn bread ingredients and pour mix into a greased 11" (deep) oven safe skillet, (I put mine into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake corn bread for 15 min. Remove from oven and put the toppings on with the cheese last. Put back in the oven and bake an additional 5 mins. Remove and serve with salsa and sour cream.


If you don't want make cornbread from scratch use 2 boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix. For those of you with smaller families, try 1 box of muffin mix in a 9in square pan.
I make 2- 9 x 13 pans for my family of 7.

Hawaiian Haystacks

I love this because you can please anybody with it!

2 c. white rice (or brown)
2 large chicken breasts, boiled & shredded (I just use a can of chicken)
1 can cream of chicken soup

Topping Ideas:
Chow Mein Noodles
Shredded Cheese
Tomatoes
Corn
Peas
Water Chesnuts
Pineapple
Celery

Cook rice according to directions. Set aside. Combine cream of chicken soup with 1/2 to 3/4 c of water or milk according to desired sauce thickness. Stir in chicken and simmer on low heat. Put toppings in separate bowls.

When it is time to eat, each person builds their own "haystack" by taking a scoop of rice, pouring some chicken mixture on top, and adding whatever toppings desired.